Prisoner of Night and Fog (Prisoner of Night and Fog #1)
416 pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Release Date: April 22nd 2014
In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.
Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler.
And Gretchen follows his every command.
Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can't help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she's been taught to believe about Jews.
As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?
From debut author Anne Blankman comes this harrowing and evocative story about an ordinary girl faced with the extraordinary decision to give up everything she's ever believed . . . and to trust her own heart instead.
Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genres. I love it because you get a feel for what happened in history but with fictional characters. It’s almost like a history lesson but you don’t realize it.
One thing I can say for sure is that this author, Anne Blankman, has done her homework on Hitler and the rise of his power. I didn’t even have to read the author’s note or list of resources to know that. I really felt throughout the book that I was getting a real view of how Hitler was.
This is a plot driven sort of book. The story starts out a little slowly as the plot is established and we are introduced to the characters but once all that is set and in place, look out! Things really start moving quickly.
Gretchen is a likeable character. She has known much sorrow and anxiety in her short life so far. Her brief encounter with a Jewish boy sets Gretchen off on a quest for information. She soon realizes that everything she has always known is built upon lies. Gretchen is a spunky girl though- smart and determined. She wants the truth no matter how much it hurts.
I really did enjoy this book. As I said before, it is the plot that carries the book. I would have loved to have felt more emotion throughout the book. It has such potential with Hitler to be creepy and chilling and while I understood that he was a crazy man with evil intentions, I didn’t necessarily feel that. The same can be said of Gretchen. She went through so much, I just wanted to feel with her and not just understand with my head from the outside. I would have loved to have had more of the Jewish culture woven in. We know that Daniel is Jewish but we never really get a feel for how that makes him who he is in the book. None of the Jewish customs were brought out. I guess it just left me wishing for that depth and richness that comes from feeling and being more immersed in the culture.
Overall this was a good book. I was driven forward by the plot, wanting to know what happened next. I wanted Gretchen to find the answers and I was most definitely rooting for Gretchen and Daniel. I liked them working together. The ending was so action packed, full of heart pounding danger and struggle. I just couldn’t put it down and I couldn’t read fast enough. The ending is such a cliffhanger, I’m left wanting to know what happens!
Anne Blankman may have been meant to be a writer because her parents named her for Anne of Green Gables. She grew up in an old house with gables (gray, unfortunately) in upstate New York. When she wasn't writing or reading, she was rowing on the crew team, taking ballet lessons, fencing and swimming. She graduated from Union College with degrees in English and history, which comes in handy when she writes historical fiction.
After earning a master's degree in information science, Anne began working as a youth services librarian. Currently, she lives in southeastern Virginia with her family. When she's not writing young adult fiction, she's playing with her daughter, training for races with her husband, working at her amazing library branch, learning to knit (badly), and reading.
Anne Blankman is the author of PRISONER OF NIGHT AND FOG, the first in a three-book deal slated for publication in spring 2014 from Balzer + Bray | HarperCollins. She is represented by Tracey Adams of Adams Literary.
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It said to answer the question of the day, but I couldn't find one.... My question of the day is if my 11 year old daughter will get up in the next few minutes or if I'll have to follow through on my threat to take her to school in her pajamas...
ReplyDeleteNaDell, I totally forgot to put a question of the day but I love yours. :) I have an 11 year old too! I totally hear you.
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